They took my interns away. *Sniffle!*

[sistawendy]

Had one last post-yoga dinner Monday night with E - not the E of chiptune fame - the last of my gay interns. Aw! I'm struck by how many gay teens, like E when she was that age, move out of their parents' houses and find some means of supporting themselves. LGBT kids' independent & resourceful streak is a fine argument against DADT.

One thing that surprised me about E was that her leaving her parents wasn't explicitly about her queerness, necessarily, and I know she isn't alone in that. I get the feeling, though, that the key word here is "explicitly". She never had the coming out talk; she just started talking and acting as if she were out. E seems to be unusual among TBLG* people in having good a relationship with her whole immediate family, all the more unusual because her family hasn't had decades to come to grips with her. I hope she represents the future.

Being around gay people is so much more... relaxing. And no, I wasn't lusting after her for a change. Not that she isn't cute.



*Stolen from Jenny Boylan.

Comments

[apestyle.livejournal.com]

I think I'll start using BLTG...because who doesn't like a Gay BLT?

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Considering the number of bisexuals I know, I'm amazed I haven't seen that already. I guess they're not gay enough to come first in the abbreviation. Me? I'm too gay.

[darkmane.livejournal.com]

That is what you get for abusing them.

Maybe you can clear up the situation in two years, but not interns for you next year.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine and I talked about this not too long ago. She asked when I came out to my parents.
I looked kinda puzzled. Like why should anyone who has clearly been in love with both girls and boys since they could walk ever have to have that talk? It'd be like telling them I have blue eyes.

Maybe she knows her parents already know.

And yes, it does make the future look awesome.

[gwywnnydd.livejournal.com]

"I hope she represents the future."

One of my favorite letters to Dan Savage EVAR was from a teen boy, who had been discovered by his parents kissing his boyfriend, and that was how they learned he was gay. And he had written to say "I don't have a problem, I just wanted to say thank you, to you and all those who came before me, who gave my parents enough exposure to gays that they didn't freak out. They're cool with it, and me."
Made me tear up, it did. Here's to hoping there are many, many more kids out there who end up with much the same story.

[la-roja.livejournal.com]

I just came out to my family as poly, bi-sexual, and in a relationship with a woman for the past 2.5 years. It went remarkably well. One sister hardly blinked an eye and while my mother (who is a devout Mormon) is sad about it and concerned for my eternal well-being she has been nothing but loving and accepting. My entire family has really impressed me. I am looking forward to the holidays this year, where my girlfriend will join us for the first time. :)

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Yay for your family! You've done way better than average, especially considering your mother's beliefs. I hope their example spreads what I optimistically call common decency where they are.

It's especially wonderful when the family members you don't expect to be way cool are. Your mother is firmly Mormon; mine comes from a small town in the Blue Ridge mountains and can remember World War 2.

I wish I knew why the ones who aren't cool aren't. To quote my son out of context, how do we make it stop?

[motherofangels.livejournal.com]

Where is the picture of you with extensions?
Mom

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

It's the previous entry. Here's the link: http://sistawendy.livejournal.com/546914.html

You have to click on the link that says, "Six and a half hours of Anna Carver's hard work later..." That's called a cut tag. It's specific to LiveJournal, and it's good manners to use one for a large photo like the one I posted.